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In the last gasp of summer, there's still time for one more seaside escape. From a black-sand retreat on Maui to a hidden strand on Cape Cod, Travel &; Leisure sifted through the country's 95,000 miles of shoreline to find these idyllic stretches. Let the relaxation begin!

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Waianapanapa Black-Sand Beach

Maui, Hawaii

On Honokalani Road, just off the Hana Highway, is Waianapanapa, a black-sand cove set between cliffs. Watch daredevils paddle their boards beyond the weathered rock arches and lava tubes jutting from the shore.

Shopping Detour: At the Hasegawa General Store (5165 Hana Hwy.; 808/248-7079), load up on bargain surf shorts and folding beach chairs.

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Ladies Beach

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Follow dusty SUV's as they dogleg left before Cisco Beach and bump through a maze of dirt roads to seek out laid-back Ladies Beach, on the southwestern edge of Nantucket.

T&;L Tip: Beachcombing dogs are welcome, but bring a leash.

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Butterfly Beach

Santa Barbara, California

This golden half-mile sliver, in the tony Montecito neighborhood, has head-on views of Santa Cruz Island and almost-as-reliable sightings of local celebs like Kevin Costner.

T&;L Tip: The patio scene at Cava (1212 Coast Village Rd.; 805/969-8500; lunch for two $50) almost upstages the rock-shrimp tacos.

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Rosemary Beach

Florida

Rosemary has the same calm Gulf waters and sparkly quartz sand (it actually squeaks between your toes) as its neighbors along the 26-mile stretch of the Florida Panhandle. The difference: vacationers jam the beaches of Easter egg--colored Seaside, but it's possible to find yourself alone here if you time things right (between September and December, the water still averages 79 degrees).

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North Beach

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

With its posh boutiques and summer homes, Chatham is the Beverly Hills of Cape Cod. So it's surprising to discover that right offshore is a nearly deserted stretch of white sand.

T&;L Tip: The boat journey to the beach through Aunt Lydia's Cove is half the fun, as schools of seals pop their heads above the water (Chatham Fish Pier, Shore Rd.; 508/945-5265).

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Gooseberry Beach

Newport, Rhode Island

Protected by granite boulders and grassy dunes, Gooseberry's conditions are ideal for swimming or splashing in tidal pools.

Reach the Beach: Bicycle along Bellevue Avenue to Newport's 15-mile Ocean Drive, which follows the rocky Atlantic coastline facing Rhode Island Sound.

Shopping Detour: Stop at Angela Moore (119 Bellevue Ave.; 401/848-9695) for colorfully beaded sarongs and pink and green flip-flops.

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Hanakapiai Beach

Kauai, Hawaii

Two miles into the 11-mile-long Kalalau Trail on Kauai's Napali coast, Hanakapiai is a welcome pitstop. Tucked between two narrow cliffs, the beach is framed by a deposit of boulders.

T&;L Tip: The beach is a bit of a tease: swimming is strongly discouraged, because of the violent surf.

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Crandon Park Beach

Key Biscayne, Florida

Right offshore, a vast sandbar makes for endless wading, and on the beach you'll also find a baseball diamond, volleyball courts, and a nature center with trails through the adjacent mangroves.

T&;L Tip: Rent a private beach cabana on the park's south end (305/361-5421; $20 per day).

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Kiawah Island

South Carolina

South of Charleston, starfish and conch shells dot Kiawah Island's expansive 10-mile crescent.

T&;L Tip: For privacy, head to the two easternmost miles of the beach.

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Whitefish Dunes State Park

Door County, Wisconsin

A five-minute drive through a forest of birch and beech trees brings you to a wide strip of white sand and dunes fringed with high grass on turquoise Lake Michigan.

T&;L Tip: At the Big Red Tent pavilion, naturalists answer questions about native flora and fauna.